A status orange wind warning has been issued for eight counties, as Storm Fionn is expected to bring very strong winds along the Atlantic coast.

Met Eireann has issued three Status Yellow Rainfall warnings for 12 counties.

Snow and ice weather warnings have been issued for most parts of the country.

Here's your evening update.

There is bad news regarding the weekend's weather, with sleet and snow forecast for some areas.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Ireland is set be plunged into an Arctic freeze from mid-December, as forecasters predict “the coldest and snowiest spell in some years”.

Winter’s icy grip is set to hit northern counties over the next few days with 3cm of snow and near freezing temperatures.

Former CEO of the Rehab Group Angela Kerins has claimed she lost her job and her health suffered as a direct consequence of her questioning by the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee in relation to State funding of the Rehab group.

High tides and heavy rainfall mean coastal areas remain on flood alert this week.

Transport chiefs have warned about the dangers of travelling as the latest Atlantic storm sweeps across the country.

A 23 year-old woman has died after a tree fell on her car in Ireland.

As one who has campaigned for Seanad reform for over 30 years and played a role in the recent referendum I greatly regret that due to the fact of my temporary hospitalisation I cannot take part in today’s debate on Seanad reform led by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The Road Safety Authority is advising all road users to take extra care as heavy rain and localised flooding is expected across the country today and tomorrow.

Winter is on its way back, forecasters have warned, as temperatures are expected to plunge from the unseasonably mild highs of 13C in recent weeks to as low as minus 3C in the coming days.

The Road Safety Authority is warning drivers to be careful today with more gale force winds expected in many areas.

Temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as minus four degrees overnight as the winter’s first cold snap hits the country.

Emergency response teams have been alerted across the North amid fears the overnight flooding that swamped Belfast could be repeated today.

There are worries that the Co Cork town of Clonakilty may suffer from the overnight floods as high tide is due in the town around lunchtime today.

ENDEAVOUR yes, but skill?

A review of the weather in 2011 has found no shortage of warmth, but not when it was most needed.

Power is starting to return to homes after storms battered the country overnight.

A POLITICAL ethics watchdog has sent a file on Ivor Callely to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after investigations into irregular mobile phone claims.

There is a warning of further snow falls in most parts of the country before the end of the week.

Dublin Airport will remain closed until 5 o'clock in the morning.

Dublin Airport officials have made the decision to close the facility's runway until at least 11pm this evening following further heavy snow.

Snow showers in the east of the country are causing further problems for people travelling home for Christmas today.

Commuters on the M9 in Kildare will today face delays as gardaí and council staff work to clear any remaining snow.

Roads chiefs have ordered local authorities to mix salt with coarse sand so that supplies can be maintained for the next two weeks.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said workers’ efforts to keep the country running in the big freeze showed the true sense of public service.

People must help each other through the big freeze as temperatures are set to plunge even further, it was warned today.

Coastal areas remain on flood alert this morning as forecasters warn of a high sea swell.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year with temperatures hitting 25 degrees in some parts of the country - and it could be a sign of things to come.

Ireland’s two leading airlines tonight warned they have lost more than €70m as an Icelandic volcano paralysed the aviation industry.

The clear skies are set to continue for another few days.

Heavy snow has hit parts of the country this evening.

Sleet is forecast to fall over much of the country today as local authorities warn that many reservoirs are at an extremely low level.

WITH temperatures plummeting to -5C last night motorists were today being advised to exercise extreme care while driving and not to make any non-essential trips.

Cork was bracing itself tonight after council chiefs warned more flood misery could be on the way.

An independent inquiry should be launched into the cause of some of the worst flooding in the Republic of Ireland in living memory, it was claimed today.

The Taoiseach will today chair a meeting of the emergency task force set up to look at ways to help those who have been hardest hit by this week's flooding.

Towns and communities across the country were today counting the cost of the clean-up operation after being devastated by some of the worst floods in living memory.

Some of the areas worst hit by floods have been washed out after almost four times the normal rainfall fell in the last seven days.